Electrical connecter for transmission lines



May 25 1926.

C. SMITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTER FOR TRANSMISSION LINES Filed June 21, 1924 FIG. 1

INVENTOR Patented May 25, 1926.

rasalai CHARLES SMITH, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL GONNEC'IER FOR TRANSMISSION LINES.

Application filed June 21,

My invention relates to electrical conductors and more particularly to connecters suitable for temporary use and assistance in repairing broken transmission lines, as Well as to a method for connecting such lines.

One object of my invention is to provide means whereby a broken transmission line, particularly one carrying high voltage, may be repaired with safety and without substantial interruption to the service.

Heretofore, when transmission lines have become broken it has been deemed necessary to shut off the current until a repair has been fully completed, owing to the danger of electrocution and to the liability of injury to the repairman through arcing when the broken ends of a transmission line from which the current has not been shutoli are brought together. The difficulty in making repairs is further increased where there are a plurality of conductors located adjacent to one another as in phase system of distribution, and especially where there are wires on cross arms above or below the broken wire.

By my invention I provide'a device whereby the broken ends of a line may be tem porarily supported and a current shunted around such ends while they are being rejoined. 7

One manner in which my invention may be practiced is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a view, in front elevation, of one side of the connecter which. I employ; Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite side thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan .view thereof,

and Fig. l is a cross sectional view of the device of Fig. 1.

For convenience of explanation, I have shown my device as applied to broken wire 5 of a- 3-wire distribution system, the numbers 5 and 5 representing the broken ends of the line 5.

The connecter consists of a block 6 of insulating material to which a switch blade 7 is pivoted by a bolt S'that extends through the block of base 6. The opposite end of the blade 7 cooperates with switch jaws 9 that are secured to the block 6 by a bolt 9*. At the opposite side of the block 6 is shown clamping plates 10 and 11 for holding the broken wire 5. Nuts 12 are employed for drawing the plate 11 tightly against the wire 5", by reason of their threaded engagement 1924. Serial No. 721,489.

with the bolts 9 and 13 that are pointed at their outer ends to facilitate the placing of the nuts 12 thereon. The plates 10 and 11 and the bolt 9 serve to electrically connectthe switch jaws 9 with the wire 5".

In order to more firmly connect the block 6 to the wire 5 I provide a second pair of clampingplates 162 that are drawn together by nuts 15 that engage bolts 16 in a manner similar to the arrangement with respect to bolts 9 and 11. V I i An operating cord or rope 17 is connected to the outer end of the switch blade 7 and passes over a sheave 18 that is secured to the block 6 by means of a bolt or pivot pin 19 and a yoke member 20.

The bolt 8 together with a nut 8 may serve as a terminal for a conductor 21. The other end of this conductor is secured to a clamping plate 22 with which cooperates another plate 23 the plates being drawn together by nuts 2% and'bolts 25. The plates 22 and 23 serve to clamp the wire end 5.

A. pigtail connector 26 is also provided, one end of such connecter being secured to the switch blade 7 and the othcrend thereof secured at 28 to the conductor 21.

When it is desired to repair a broken line, one end thereof is connected to the block 6 as above explained, and the other end there of connected to the conductor 21, through the a clamping plates 22 and 23. The switch blade 7 during the making of these connec tions is preferably in open position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. 'Ihereafterv the switch is closed, through the medium of the rope 17, and current will flow through the switch jaws 9, the switch blade 7, the shunt connection 26, and conductor 21. A latch may be provided to insure against accidental opening of the switch. The operator may then with a reasonable degree of safety repair the broken ends 5" and 5 as the current will be flowing through the connections just described.

It will be seen that my invention is particularly advantageous on transmission lines that are located at considerable height above the ground and adjacent to other live wires, "for the reason that the repairman may c0nnect the broken ends to the switch while said ends are dead and may then operate the rope to close the switch.

If an attempt were made to connect the broken ends with current on the line, the resulting arcs would perhaps flash into the repairmans eyes, causing him to lose the sight of his eyes or startle him into touching an adjacent live wire.

The shunt .26 is provided as an additional )recaution to avoid slight arcing that would Jccur it the pivotcoiuiertion ot' the switch blade became slightly loose.

By connecting the wire ends and 5" to opposite sides of the block, as will appear more clearly in Fig. i), a grcate meiunirc of safety is present in that there is lets liability for such ends to accidentally touch during the (JODlltCtiOl. of swi ch blocl-q thereto. Further, a better balance of the switch block is obtained in that it will tend to lie in a vertical plane when suspended from the wires thus facilitating movement of the switch plate and rendering the device more stable.

Various changes in detail and general arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as delined in the accompanying claims:

lVhat- I claim is:

1. An electrical wire fastening device comprising a switch block, and means on said block for detachably connecting a conductor thereto, a flexible electrical connection secured to said block, means on said connection for detachably enga; -ng a second conductor, and a movable contact devi e for controlling the circuit through said firstnamed conductor and said flexible connecter.

2. An electrical wire fastening device comprising a switch block, a conductor clamp secured to one side of said block and having a portion thereof extending through said block, a stationary contact nien'iber secured to said portion, a movable contact: member, pivotally mounted on said block for engagement with said contact member, a flexible connector secured to said movable contact member, and means for securing said flexible connector to a second conductor.

3. An electrical wire fastening device comprisin a conductor clamp secured to one side of said block and having a portion thercol extending through said block, a stationary contact member secured to said por tion, a movable Contact member, pivotally mounted on said block tor engagement with said stationary contact; member, a flexible connector secured to said movable contact member, means tor securing said flexible connector to a second conductor, a pull cord attached to said inovali-le contact member.

and a guiding sheave on said lr-lock tor said pull cord.

t. A. device tor use in connecting the ends of clectr' :al C(HltlllCtOlS, comprising a switch, means for temporarily securing the switch to one conductor at a point removed from the end thereof, means tor eliecting a temporary shunt connection irom said switch to a point removed from the end o i another conductor, whereby the conductor ends may be supported in convenient position it'or permanent: connection to one another, and means for operating said switch to make and break a circuit through said shunt.

A device i'or use in permanently connecting the ends of electrical conductors, comprising a switch, means for detachably connecting one pole ot the switch to a conductor at a point removed from the end thereot, and means for coimecting another pole of the switch to a comluctor at a point removed from the end thereof, the connecting means being so arranged that the extremities oi the conductors may be supported in position for joinii'ig to one another.

In testin'iony whereof I, the said Crnnnns SMITH, have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES SidllH. I 

